AP Lang Summer Assignment Glass Castle
Ally Nagel
AP Lang
26 August 2014
The Glass Castle “ . . .Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” In the American Declaration of Independence it is established that all people are subjected to these, among other, inalienable rights. The pursuit of happiness became a focal point for many Americans during the Great Depression, a time when poverty covered this great nation. The Walls family is cursed with this poverty for much of their lives. The title of the memoir “The Glass Castle” is later shown to represent this pursuit. Through the repetition of negative circumstances, the author elaborates on the aspect of achieving happiness through tenacity. Juxtaposition between the negative, destructive decisions of the parents and the positive, beneficial decisions of the children show the potentials of the pursuit of happiness. This same juxtaposition between parent and child shows the overall success of the pursuit is not entirely dependent on monetary status. Through the repetition and juxtaposition, the author thoroughly explores the concept of the American Dream, and how it can be pursued and achieved by anyone. For the first part of the book, the author is too young to understand that her predicament is not the average upbringing. Her father is an alcoholic, and her mother is somewhat of a free spirit. Neither can maintain jobs, and therefore do not stay in any one place for an extended period of time. Her father continually mentions building his family the “Glass Castle,” a house made completely of glass that he will build his family once they are wealthy enough. This castle represents the overall achievement of happiness later explained by the author. This is where the negative circumstances of the family are discussed. Jeanette is burned, and after receiving medical care, is taken from the hospital by her father to avoid paying the bill. “A few days later, when I had been in the hospital for about six weeks, Dad appeared alone in the doorway
AP Lang
26 August 2014
The Glass Castle “ . . .Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” In the American Declaration of Independence it is established that all people are subjected to these, among other, inalienable rights. The pursuit of happiness became a focal point for many Americans during the Great Depression, a time when poverty covered this great nation. The Walls family is cursed with this poverty for much of their lives. The title of the memoir “The Glass Castle” is later shown to represent this pursuit. Through the repetition of negative circumstances, the author elaborates on the aspect of achieving happiness through tenacity. Juxtaposition between the negative, destructive decisions of the parents and the positive, beneficial decisions of the children show the potentials of the pursuit of happiness. This same juxtaposition between parent and child shows the overall success of the pursuit is not entirely dependent on monetary status. Through the repetition and juxtaposition, the author thoroughly explores the concept of the American Dream, and how it can be pursued and achieved by anyone. For the first part of the book, the author is too young to understand that her predicament is not the average upbringing. Her father is an alcoholic, and her mother is somewhat of a free spirit. Neither can maintain jobs, and therefore do not stay in any one place for an extended period of time. Her father continually mentions building his family the “Glass Castle,” a house made completely of glass that he will build his family once they are wealthy enough. This castle represents the overall achievement of happiness later explained by the author. This is where the negative circumstances of the family are discussed. Jeanette is burned, and after receiving medical care, is taken from the hospital by her father to avoid paying the bill. “A few days later, when I had been in the hospital for about six weeks, Dad appeared alone in the doorway
Cited: Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle. New York: Scribner, 2005. Print.